Ethylene oxide is a colorless, odorless, toxic gas, slightly heavier than air, flammable and explosive, soluble in water, alcohol and other organic solvents.
Since ethylene oxide is a very flammable chemical, it is usually filled with carbon dioxide in a cylinder and sold as an ethylene oxide-carbon dioxide mixture in industrial uses.
Ethylene oxide usage areas are as follows.
It is used for sterilization to stop microbiological activity and in the production of ethylene glycol.